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  • Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand

    Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand
    Jan 8 2026
    Leadership is not just about vision, strategy, or charisma. It is about the emotional footprint you leave behind.

    In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert, Founder & CEO of A3 Culture Lab, Andrea Wanerstrand to explore why emotional awareness is now one of the most critical leadership skills.

    Andrea explains how leaders unintentionally create stress, confusion, and fear through tone, energy, and emotional inconsistency, even when their intentions are good. She breaks down the science behind emotional intelligence, how the nervous system shows up at work, and why people remember how leaders make them feel more than what they say.

    This conversation is a practical guide for leaders who want stronger trust, higher engagement, and better performance without burning out their teams or themselves.


    What You Will Learn
    • Why emotional awareness drives trust and loyalty
    • How leadership energy creates ripple effects across teams
    • The difference between being nice and being kind
    • How emotional intelligence improves clarity and execution
    • Why stress kills creativity and innovation
    • How to reset your energy between meetings
    • The real ROI of leading with empathy

    Chapters

    (00:00) Why leadership is emotional, not positional
    (02:45) How leaders unintentionally create fear and confusion
    (06:30) The ripple effect of unmanaged energy
    (10:20) Emotional intelligence explained simply
    (15:40) Navigating tough conversations with clarity
    (20:30) Why micromanaging destroys confidence
    (26:10) Consistency, trust, and psychological safety
    (32:00) The myth of separating work and personal emotions
    (38:10) Feedback, presence, and emotional accountability
    (44:30) Leading with empathy in an AI driven world
    (50:20) Final reflections and how to connect


    Guest Bio

    Andrea Wanerstrand is a leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert who helps executives build emotionally intelligent organizations. Her work focuses on self awareness, trust, nervous system regulation, and high performance leadership.

    Connect with Andrea Wanerstrand

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrand/
    Website: https://a3culturelab.com


    Connect With Executive Connect

    Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
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    37 Min.
  • How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik

    How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik
    Jan 6 2026
    What if chasing individual real estate deals is actually increasing your risk?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Bryan sits down with Mike Zlotnik to break down how experienced investors think about real estate as part of a long-term portfolio strategy, not a one-off deal strategy.

    Mike explains how cap rates really work, why portfolio construction matters more than deal hunting, and how rising interest rates have reset commercial real estate pricing. They also explore why real estate behaves differently from public markets, how cash flow acts as downside protection, and why today’s environment favors disciplined, income-focused investors.

    If you are evaluating commercial real estate, private equity deals, or alternative investments and want a clearer framework for managing risk, leverage, and long-term returns, this episode delivers practical insight grounded in real market cycles.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • How portfolio construction matters more than chasing individual real estate deals
    • Why working with the right people is more important than picking the “perfect” deal
    • How commercial real estate fits into a diversified wealth strategy
    • What cap rates really mean and how interest rates impact property values
    • How to think about leverage, risk, and downside protection
    • Why today’s market cycle presents unique opportunities for patient capital
    • How to evaluate operators, sponsors, and investment terms
    • The importance of defining your personal buy box and don’t-buy box
    • How income-focused real estate can support long-term financial freedom


    Episode highlights:
    01:05 Why portfolio construction beats deal chasing
    02:45 Defining your investment goals before deploying capital
    04:12 Liquid vs illiquid assets in a balanced portfolio
    06:01 Why real estate shines for income and tax efficiency
    07:32 How rising interest rates reset commercial real estate
    08:58 Buying below replacement cost and intrinsic value
    10:41 Positive leverage and margin of safety explained
    12:05 Simple vs complex real estate strategies
    13:34 Why commercial real estate is a contrarian opportunity
    14:56 Choosing the right operator and sponsor
    17:48 How to evaluate deals beyond the spreadsheet
    19:11 Negotiating better terms as a capital partner
    21:00 Funds vs individual syndications
    23:12 Defining your buy box and your do not buy box
    25:55 Final thoughts on risk, leverage, and discipline

    Mike Zlotnik is a seasoned real estate investor, fund manager, and educator with decades of experience across private equity, private lending, and alternative investments. He is the founder of several investment firms and the host of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, where he interviews top investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders on building wealth outside traditional markets. Mike is known for his disciplined approach to capital preservation, cash flow, and long-term financial freedom.

    🔗 Connect with Mike:
    https://tempofunding.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/
    https://bigmikefund.com/

    🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
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    37 Min.
  • Rebuilding Empathy in an AI-Driven World | Dr. Ginger Carlson

    Rebuilding Empathy in an AI-Driven World | Dr. Ginger Carlson
    Jan 5 2026
    What happens when technology moves faster than our ability to understand one another?
    In this episode of Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug speaks with Dr. Ginger Carlson, founder of the Multarity Project, about the growing empathy deficit and how artificial intelligence can be used to reconnect people rather than divide them.

    Dr. Carlson explains how guided dialogue, diverse perspectives, and AI-powered visualizations are helping individuals and organizations build deeper understanding, improve decision-making, and restore human connection in a polarized world.

    This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how empathy, technology, and courage intersect in the future of work and society.

    What You Will Learn
    • Why society is experiencing a measurable empathy deficit
    • How structured dialogue increases understanding across differences
    • Ways artificial intelligence can strengthen human connection rather than replace it
    • How leaders can reduce fear and resistance around AI adoption
    • Why empathy directly impacts decision-making and organizational health
    • How to use technology without losing your personal voice or identity
    • Practical frameworks for building collective intelligence in teams

    Episode highlights:
    (1:10) What the Multarity Project does
    (2:49) Using AI to build understanding
    (4:22) Why people fear artificial intelligence
    (6:29) AI as a creative partner
    (9:27) Human development and technology
    (13:02) Generational differences in AI adoption
    (18:21) Empathy decline and social division
    (24:25) Using AI without losing your voice
    (32:10) Why empathy is the connective tissue

    Connect with Dr. Ginger Carlson:
    Web: https://www.multarityproject.com/
    Web: https://www.gingercarlson.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgingercarlson/

    Watch her TEDx Talk on The Power of Multarity Thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMqH55IREIY

    Connect with Melissa Aarskaug:
    LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug
    Podcast → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
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    33 Min.
  • Why Marketing ROI Is Broken And How AI Fixes It | Jeff Greenfield

    Why Marketing ROI Is Broken And How AI Fixes It | Jeff Greenfield
    Jan 1 2026
    Is marketing really driving revenue or just generating reports no one trusts?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provolytics, to unpack why marketing ROI has become one of the biggest trust gaps inside modern organizations. Jeff explains how fractured data, outdated attribution models, and over-reliance on clicks have caused finance teams to lose confidence in marketing performance.

    They explore how AI-powered modeling is helping marketing teams move beyond cookies, rebuild credibility with CFOs and CEOs, and finally connect media spend to real business outcomes across digital, retail, and marketplace channels. This conversation breaks down what AI actually means in marketing today, how privacy changes accelerated innovation, and why AI should elevate marketers rather than replace them.

    If you are responsible for marketing spend, executive decision-making, or proving growth impact in a privacy-first world, this episode will reshape how you think about measurement.

    Watch more in our Tech Leadership and The AI Revolution playlist:
    http://bit.ly/46rlY7R


    • What You’ll Learn:
    • Why marketing ROI problems are rooted in trust, not data
    • How AI replaces broken attribution models without cookies
    • What most leaders misunderstand about AI-powered marketing
    • Why clicks fail to capture real business impact
    • How AI creates a single source of truth for CMOs and CFOs
    • How marketers can reclaim creativity by letting AI handle the math
    • What the future of automated media optimization looks like

    Episode highlights:
    (1:31) The Measurement Crisis Explained
    (2:40) How Digital Broke Attribution
    (4:47) Rebuilding Measurement With AI
    (6:30) Privacy Changes And The End Of Cookies
    (9:17) What AI-Powered Really Means
    (11:21) Measuring Marketing Without Clicks
    (13:23) Proving ROI To CFOs And CEOs
    (17:09) AI Elevates Marketers, Not Replaces
    (22:41) The Future Of AI-Driven Media Buying
    (27:46) Final Advice For Finance And Marketing

    Jeff Greenfield is the Co-Founder and CEO of Provalytics, where he is reshaping marketing attribution with privacy-first, cookie-less solutions built for today’s digital landscape. With over 30 years of experience in strategy, growth, and marketing innovation, he has helped global brands like JP Morgan and Nestlé drive marketing ROI gains of more than 25%. Previously, Jeff co-founded C3 Metrics, pioneering early cookie-less attribution technology, and today he leads Provalytics with a focus on restoring trust, clarity, and measurable impact across modern marketing.

    Connect with Jeff Greenfield:
    Web: https://provalytics.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/

    Connect with Executive Connect
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/

    Connect With Us
    Website → www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube → Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn → Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram → @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok → @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook → Executive Connect
    If you like the content, please do share, subscribe, and like the channel.
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    30 Min.
  • AI Ethics, Empathy & the Future of Work | Dr. Ayesha Khanna

    AI Ethics, Empathy & the Future of Work | Dr. Ayesha Khanna
    Dec 30 2025
    Is AI helping your business grow or quietly putting it at risk?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Dr. Ayesha Khanna, one of the world’s leading voices on artificial intelligence, ethics, and human-centered innovation. Ayesha explains why AI is not a strategy but an accelerant, and why leaders must start with purpose, governance, and trust before adopting new tools.

    This conversation explores how ethical AI actually drives growth, why replacing humans with automation backfires, and how the smartest companies use AI to reduce burnout, strengthen teams, and build long-term trust with customers. From global policy to real-world business examples, this episode offers a clear framework for leaders navigating AI without losing their humanity.

    Watch more in our Tech Leadership & The AI Revolution playlist:
    http://bit.ly/46rlY7R

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why AI without a clear problem creates more risk, not results
    • The difference between efficiency-driven AI and growth-driven AI
    • How human-centered AI protects trust, talent, and customers
    • What ethical AI governance looks like in real organizations
    • How companies like IKEA use AI without replacing human value
    • Why adaptability and mindset matter more than technical skill
    • How AI can reduce burnout instead of increasing pressure
    • What leaders must prepare for as AI agents become mainstream


    Episode highlights:
    (0:00) AI Is Not a Strategy
    (2:48) Why Human-Centered AI Matters
    (5:45) The Biggest AI Mistake CEOs Make
    (7:34) Growth Mindset vs Efficiency Thinking
    (9:57) How Companies Use AI the Right Way
    (12:27) AI Governance and Guardrails
    (14:55) Human Skills That Matter Most
    (18:51) AI, Burnout, and the Future of Work
    (21:07) Closing Thoughts on Ethical AI

    Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global boards. A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking entrepreneur by Forbes, named Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024) and - most recently - honored with the Her World Hello Possibilities Award in recognition of her impact in empowering women and society through innovative use of technology. Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently supports mid-career women in tech through her education company, Amplify.

    Connect with Dr. Ayesha Khanna
    Web: https://www.ayeshakhanna.com/
    Listen to hear podcast: https://www.aiacrossborders.co/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayeshakhanna/
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/ayeshakhanna/

    Connect with Executive Connect:
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    YouTube → / @executiveconnect
    Newsletter → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/newsletter/
    LinkedIn → / my-executive-connect

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    44 Min.
  • The Real Reason Leaders Feel Lost (And How to Reclaim Yourself) | Martine Cohen

    The Real Reason Leaders Feel Lost (And How to Reclaim Yourself) | Martine Cohen
    Dec 29 2025
    What if the success you keep chasing on the outside is actually pointing you back inward?

    In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Martine Cohen, a former attorney turned transformative coach and author of No More Layers. After a life-altering car accident forced her to rebuild everything from the inside out, Martine discovered why identity, performance, and leadership break down when we lose connection to who we truly are.

    Together, they explore why high performers feel stuck despite outward success, how internal misalignment quietly drives burnout, and what it really means to lead from self-awareness instead of fear, pressure, or expectations.

    This conversation is a powerful reset for leaders who are ready to stop performing and start living aligned.

    What You’ll Learn
    • Why external success cannot exist without internal alignment
    • How identity gets confused with roles, emotions, and achievements
    • The hidden cost of living in constant reaction mode
    • Why fear often sits in the driver’s seat without us realizing it
    • How to reconnect with your internal compass as a leader
    • A practical method to regulate emotions and regain clarity in real time
    • How to navigate major life or career transitions without losing yourself

    Chapters
    00:00 Inner success creates outer success
    01:11 Martine’s accident and awakening
    03:03 Discovering awareness beyond the mind
    04:51 Internal chaos versus external chaos
    06:16 Why roles and achievements do not define you
    07:15 Reclaiming inner awareness as a leadership skill
    08:40 Why leaders lose connection with themselves
    10:21 The danger of ignoring internal alignment
    11:55 How misalignment fuels burnout and fear
    14:18 Setting daily intention instead of reacting
    15:56 Process over outcome thinking
    17:42 The SIT method for emotional regulation
    20:18 Breaking the hamster wheel of performance
    21:56 Navigating transitions without new masks
    24:05 Separating leaving from choosing what is next
    26:51 Self-leadership before leading others
    29:35 Inner alignment and sustainable success
    31:09 Recognizing misalignment in real time
    33:27 The courage to listen to your inner voice
    36:37 Transitioning with clarity and stability
    38:41 Final reflections and next steps

    Connect With Martine Cohen
    Website https://www.martinecohen.com
    Free Mind Reset Resource https://www.martinecohen.com/connect-with-me
    Grab a copy of No More Layers https://martinecohen.com/no-more-layers-book/

    About Executive Connect
    Executive Connect brings you conversations with leaders, thinkers, and operators who are redefining success through clarity, alignment, and intentional leadership.

    Website https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug
    Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
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    40 Min.
  • Why Discipline Beats Motivation Every Time | Corey Dissin

    Why Discipline Beats Motivation Every Time | Corey Dissin
    Dec 26 2025
    What if motivation is not the problem and discipline is the missing piece?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Corey Dissin, high-performance coach, entrepreneur, and author, for a raw conversation about discipline, accountability, and building real freedom. Corey breaks down why motivation culture keeps people stuck, how leaders confuse movement with progress, and what it actually takes to build a brand, business, and life that produces results.

    This episode is for founders, executives, and high performers who are tired of talking about goals and ready to execute. No fluff. No shortcuts. Just discipline, consistency, and proof of work.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why motivation is overrated, and discipline wins every time
    • How leaders confuse activity with real progress
    • The discipline habits that create freedom and time
    • How to stop self-sabotaging when things get hard
    • What real accountability looks like without excuses
    • How to build a personal brand that produces income
    • Why consistency matters more than talent or ideas
    • How to stop waiting and start executing today

    Episode highlights:
    (2:01) How Corey learned discipline early
    (4:48) Building a business one step at a time
    (6:42) Why busy does not equal progress
    (8:47) Motivation culture vs real execution
    (9:43) What accountability actually means
    (12:12) How to break self-sabotage
    (14:40) Building a brand like a business
    (17:26) Discipline creates real freedom
    (19:06) The daily habits that change everything
    (20:28) Regret that high performers share too late
    (22:03) How to stop waiting and go get it
    (24:23) Beating fear-based inaction
    (27:33) Why Corey wrote his book
    (31:19) Rapid-fire discipline mindset
    (35:57) Final advice and where to connect

    Connect with Corey Dissin:
    Web: https://coreydissin.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreydissin/

    🔗 Grab the book here: https://www.amazon.com/GOING-DISS-TANCE-Championship-Lessons-Tribute/dp/B0C2S4MW9J/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

    Connect with Executive Connect:
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    YouTube → / @executiveconnect
    Newsletter → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/newsletter/
    LinkedIn → / my-executive-connect
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    38 Min.
  • How Entrepreneurs Scale Smarter, Automate Faster, and Exit Stronger | Anthony Franco

    How Entrepreneurs Scale Smarter, Automate Faster, and Exit Stronger | Anthony Franco
    Dec 25 2025
    Entrepreneurship is harder than anyone admits. In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Anthony Franco shares the real truth behind building, scaling, and exiting companies in an AI-driven world.

    Anthony has founded seven companies and successfully exited six. He breaks down how founders can scale smarter with AI, avoid common leadership blind spots, and prepare their business for a future exit without burning out or losing control. From the rise of solo founders to AI-first frameworks like the WISER Method, this conversation is packed with practical insight for founders, executives, and operators navigating rapid change.

    If you are building a company, thinking about an exit, or wondering how AI is reshaping leadership and entrepreneurship, this episode will challenge how you think and how you build.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why entrepreneurship feels lonely and why that’s normal
    • The biggest mindset shifts founders must make to scale in an AI-driven world
    • How AI changes the way companies are built, staffed, and scaled
    • The difference between deterministic and probabilistic thinking in modern business
    • How to use AI as a thought partner instead of a shortcut
    • The WISER method and how founders can apply it without massive budgets
    • What founders must do early to prepare for a successful exit
    • The most common mistakes that quietly destroy business valuations
    • Why comfort is often a warning sign, not a win
    • How elite founders think about risk, resilience, and long-term growth
    Episode highlights:
    01:02 From terrible employee to serial founder
    03:58 Why legacy business frameworks fail in an AI world
    05:20 The rise of the one-person billion-dollar company
    07:15 How AI changes iteration, speed, and scale
    10:50 Deterministic vs probabilistic thinking in modern businesses
    14:35 The WISER method for building with AI
    18:45 Teaching teams to collaborate with AI effectively
    21:22 Becoming AI literate without technical skills
    24:59 The loneliness every founder feels
    29:15 What founders should think about before an exit
    32:19 The biggest mistakes that kill acquisitions
    36:42 Burnout, routine, and risk management
    38:32 Final advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

    About Anthony Franco:
    Anthony Franco is a serial entrepreneur who has founded seven companies and successfully exited six. He works as a fractional executive, licensing business broker, and AI strategist, helping founders build scalable, sellable businesses in a rapidly changing world. Anthony is also the host of the How to Founder podcast, where he shares the real, unfiltered lessons most founders learn the hard way.

    Connect With Anthony Franco:
    Website and Podcast: https://howtofounder.com
    AI First Principles: https://aifirstprinciples.org
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyfranco

    Connect with Executive Connect:
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectexperienc...
    YouTube → / @executiveconnect
    Newsletter → https://www.executiveconnectexperienc...
    LinkedIn → / my-executive-connect

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    40 Min.